Christian Advance Helps And Prayers

 Spiritual Mothering

Susan Hunt

Drawing on Paul’s words in Titus 2, Spiritual Mothering encourages both younger and older women to seek out godly mentoring relationships and experience the blessing of such spiritual mothering.  Featuring inspiring stories from the Bible and from women today who have faithfully embraced Scripture’s command, this book offers readers an abundance of practical insights, ministry-tested how-to’s, and personal encouragement.

Now featuring a new cover, this classic book will inspire a new generation of women to seek out the blessing of godly relationships that will encourage and equip them to live for God’s glory.

CONTEXT AND CORRELATION

There is a story of Jesus casting out a demon from a young boy in Mark chapter nine. Commentaries and different Bible versions leave you in the dark as to whether the boy was actually dead or not. Here is a biblically supported reason for believing the boy seems to have died. I will use contextual support for this interpretation.

· The story of the transfiguration precedes our story. Peter, James and John see a glorified, resurrected Jesus that shone like the sun. Thus, messaging that Jesus will die and rise glorified. This follows 8:31. Jesus clearly states He will die and rise again. Our story (9:14-32) could be told to give the reader support to the newly introduced idea Jesus will rise from the dead.

· Again, Chapter 9:9-10 speaks of the Son of Man rising from the dead. 

· The words in our story point to the boy actually being dead. 

o The boy became like a corpse. 9:26

o The boy was believed to be dead. 9:26

o Jesus took him by the hand and “raised him”. 9:27

· The story of Jesus walking through Galilee teaching His disciples about His trial, death and resurrection (9:31) follow our story of the young boy. Here He clearly proclaims He will die and rise again.

Mark chapters 1-8 tell the reader who Jesus is. Chapters 9-16 tell the reader what Jesus came to do. Dying and rising from the dead is what Jesus came to do. Furthermore, because Mark wants the reader to make the switch from who He is to what He came to do, He pivots to a heavy theme of dying and rising repeated in 8:31 and 9:9-10 (leading into our story); and 9:31; 10:34 after our story. Our story is found among this grouping.

Up to chapter 8, Jesus has not spoken of His resurrection from the dead. But when He does speak of it, He does so in a matter-of-fact way leaving no gray area. I say this having contextual support for this interpretation. Do you have contextual support for why you believe what you believe?

But not so fast! Do you have correlation? Correlation is seeing your passage in light of the other similar passages found in other books. Do they say the boy died? Do they say Jesus brought him back to life?

Actually, no. Matthew 17:14-23; Luke 9:37-45; do not even hint at the idea that Jesus raised the child from the dead. Matthew says, “the boy was cured at once.” Luke says Jesus, “healed the boy and gave him back to his father.” That being said, we should take Mark’s words, “the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, ‘He is dead’” (Mark 9:26) as being exactly what the author meant.

Context is extremely important. I cannot emphasize enough how you should always look at passages in light of context. Nevertheless, also entertain correlation. What do the other authors have to say about the same event? Do other books or other authors of Scripture support your stance? Do you have correlation support for why you believe what you believe?

KINGDOM OF FORGIVENESS

There is a series of teachings by Jesus in chapters 18-20. Jesus focuses heavily on forgiveness in 18:15-35. In these accounts is the famous “seventy times seven” statement (18:22) by Jesus when Peter asks if he should forgive a brother seven times. This “seventy times seven” phrase is used only one other place in the Bible. 

The first place it is used in Genesis 4:24 in the context of the fall and the sinful behavior that followed. Lamech refers to God’s decree that no one is to take revenge on Cain for killing Abel or they will receive a “sevenfold” judgment. Lamech kills a young man and he himself decrees that if anyone would take revenge on him it would be dealt to them “seventy-sevenfold”.

This is the curse at work. This is stinking thinking. Lamech displays a self-righteousness that almost takes your breath away. He certainly does value himself far above everyone else. The sin nature and self-centeredness has taken root in man at the deepest levels. The lives of those he took seem to be of little account and there is no remorse. The real shame in Lamech’s view would be if anything should happen to him because of his sin.

Back to Peter’s question and Jesus’ answer. By quoting the same words in the context of forgiveness rather than wrath, Jesus is indicating two very important principles a disciple needs to know. One, the Kingdom of Heaven (v.23) is a place only for those who have found forgiveness and forgive others. Secondly, Jesus has come to reverse the curse brought to humankind through the fall. True forgiveness can be the life of His followers who will live beyond the sin nature, above self-centeredness, above self-exaltation. The Kingdom is a place of forgiveness and only Jesus’ followers will be there. 

HOLINESS AND HUMILITY

A. W. Tozer speaking on Christian leadership rightly states, "Triumphs are not won by men in easy chairs. Success is costly." When we hear these words we usually think of our time or our money. But I want you to consider, when making disciples, it could cost you your pride. What? Yes, your pride. One of the key signs of holiness of heart and life is humility. Humility is Christlike. It is the life we are called to. It is doing God's will, not our will. 

Peter commands his readers to "Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility" (see 1Peter 5:5-7) Put it on. It is something to pursue. It is a choice. It is a decision. It is an attitude of the heart. Serve others. It may mean giving of your time to others. It may mean giving money. But mostly, it means obeying God, being a servant leader and considering all your disciples as better than yourself. Live out humility before your disciples. Teach them what it looks like. Yes, it is going to be costly, but victory always is.